RuPaul Explains Why He Didn't Wear Drag At The Met Gala

Like many celebrities, RuPaul turned heads at the 2019 Met Gala last week ― though, in his case, it was for a very unusual reason.

In spite of the event’s much-buzzed-about “Camp” theme, the Emmy-winning TV host and drag icon walked the red carpet in a subdued ― well, for him at least ― pink and black sequined suit, designed by Zaldy.

RuPaul explained the surprising style choice in a Monday appearance on Bravo’s “Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen” and said he thought many of the gala’s other male attendees would opt for drag.

“I thought about getting up in drag, but then I thought every man [was] gonna dress as Divine, from the John Waters films,” he said, referring to the legendary drag queen who starred in “Pink Flamingos” and “Hairspray,” among other movies. “And I thought I don’t wanna be where everyone else is in drag.”

Comfort, he said, also factored into his decision. “If I were in drag, I would be so mean to everyone because it hurts,” he added. “Drag hurts.”

To RuPaul’s surprise, two “Drag Race” veterans ― Aquaria and Violet Chachki ― were the only Met Gala attendees to appear in drag.

In particular, Twitter was quick to, well, drag actors Rami Malek and Taron Egerton for opting for traditional menswear, given their portrayals of two queer icons beloved for their outlandish style on the big screen. In February, Malek won an Oscar for playing Freddie Mercury in the 2018 Queen biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody,” while Egerton is riding a wave of prerelease buzz for his portrayal of Elton John in “Rocketman,” due out later this month.